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Claustrophobic and eerie, End of Abyss is survival horror through the eyes of Little Nightmares. Section 9 expresses its roots in new ways but still placing the protagonist and player in a harsh world of dangerous paths and twisting secrets.
Welcome to Elderfield from developer Chris Cote and publisher Kwalee is a horror-filled cozy game that offers plenty of questing content, a well-designed farming and crafting system, and features just enough turn-based combat to deliver a cornucopia of fun. While it has a few minor, correctable issues, it’s an enjoyable overall gameplay experience.
SPRAWL zero encapsulates the early 2000s era of first-person shooters. Hearkening back to a time where developers wanted to immerse players in more than just gunplay, MAETH gives players a crunchy, accurate time capsule.
Well Dweller does not wholly transform the Metroidvania genre. It undeniably features a deliciously rendered storybook world with a grim underbelly. However, some basic combat also makes it apparent that there are places where the game could have felt significantly more special. This genre is a hard nut to crack and with so many entrants year after year, it becomes increasingly challenging to differentiate from the pack. But in many ways, Kyle Thompson succeeded. And as this talented solo developer’s journey continues, I’m sure all the lessons learned will deliver something truly different and masterful.
Keeper is an alluring swan song for Double Fine’s Xbox tenure, resplendent in its ferocity, boldness, and beauty. Among these subdued, silent adventure games, there are few peers able to make this kind of thunderous impact in short order.
Garfield: Escape from Monday from developer OSome Studio is a good game that meets the standards of a 3D platforming experience. While it could have used a bit more enemy presence, the controls, levels, and overall game are still fun and make good use of the IP.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon Classic HD is every bit a remastered version of a Japan-exclusive Super Famicom game from 1993. While it may be a white whale that inspired a genre, it does feel somewhat ancient and in need of a few updates.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is an incredible action RPG, don’t get me wrong. With it being ported to the Switch 2 with minimal compromises to be near parity to modern console versions, it’s a must have for a Switch 2 owner wanting to immerse themselves in Square Enix’s deep FFVII universe. It’s just a shame that those with the older Switch version have no way of porting their progress to this version, even if the graphics are more beautiful than ever.
Silent Hill: Townfall from developer Screen Burn and publisher Konami is a step in a new and right direction for the old series. Relying more on stealth than fighting and focusing more on the narrative that builds a compelling mystery makes for a good and terrifying time.
Though altering many of the original's fundamentals, Control Resonant is every bit an extension of Remedy's incredible universe. Frenzied melee combat and mind-bending exploration house yet another fascinating story across numerous planes of reality.
Crimson Moon from developer ProbablyMonsters is a gorgeous action RPG roguelike that is quite the uphill battle at the get-go. Still, thanks to good backend and frontend rewards, it makes the difficulty worthwhile. The controls do need some work, as do consistent updates, but in the end it’s more fun than not.
Ground Hero Zero throws itself into the overwhelming arena of bullet-hell games gnawing at Vampire Survivors' pie. Despite an appealing art style and some wacky mechanics, the experience is over far too quick to feel meaningful.
Marvel’s Wolverine does not reinvent the superhero action genre like other games in Sony’s portfolio. Instead, it violently refines it with flair and demonstrates how Insomniac has become fluent in beautifully brutal combat. You’ll walk away fully satiated with the presentation, even if there were some missed opportunities to take Logan’s stealth sequences and broader skillset further with the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 features the same deluge of Xenomorphs being torn to shreds by a competent team of Colonial Marines. The addition of a fourth player slot means more friends can come along, ensuring the somewhat repetitive loop is entertaining enough.
HOT WHEELS Infinite Rush from developer Milestone S.r.l is a fun game that relies on large open-world maps with a variety of collectibles and cars to drive the experience.
With The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero making its way to the Switch 2 for the same price as the original Switch version, there’s very little reason to choose the older version. The performance improvements are smooth while overall story and OST are more than worth the price of admission. The game would be better served for a full remake, though – there’s some excellent storytelling to be experienced in a fully realized and redesigned world.
If you enjoyed Trails from Zero, then The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a delightful complement with an even more gripping story. The Crossbell Duology is some of Nihon Falcom’s most compelling work and worth playing if you haven’t yet had the chance.
'NHL 27' is yet another yearly release of the same installment. The package and presentation are gorgeous and the in-game experience is super immersive. The introduction of Connected Franchise is a big win for players, and returning fans of Be a Pro will be satisfied. But if you are looking for a major overhaul, you'll be disappointed. By no means is this a bad game, in fact, this is a good game with certain aspects of greatness. This video game makes playing hockey feel entertaining and exhilarating, the atmospheres bring an authenticity and really that is all you can ask for.
The Blood of Dawnwalker from developer Rebel Wolves is a great starting point for what could become a bigger series. It delivers a strong story, entertaining gameplay elements, and plenty of quests to keep the journey going.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword lives up to its name by providing intense, complex sword-based combat against a barrage of powerful bosses. But its exploration and side quests can frequently distract from the best parts of the game.